WalletHub’s annual report shows where working moms have the best access to childcare and professional opportunities
Women make up almost half of the U.S. workforce, and 73 percent of women with children under 18 were working in 2022. But despite the fact that being a working parent is the reality for the majority of moms in this country, it still isn’t an easy path. Working moms face discrimination, pay inequality, and other battles that should be a thing of the past, but sadly, still aren’t. Only 8.2 percent of S&P 500 companies’ chief executives are women, and women still only earn, on average, 82 percent of what men do (that’s white women, for the record—the gap is much larger for women of color). And even across the United States, the playing field isn’t equal for working moms—that’s where WalletHub’s new study comes in.
Each year, the finance site ranks U.S. states to determine which ones are the best (and worst) for working moms. Its 2023 rankings are in, and the results may surprise you. Ready to pack your bags? These 10 states are considered the best places to be a working mom:
1. Massachusetts
2. Rhode Island
3. Connecticut
4. District of Columbia
5. Wisconsin
6. Minnesota
7. Vermont
8. New Jersey
9. Maine
10. Delaware
On the flip side, these 10 states are considered the worst:
42. Arizona
43. Nevada
44. Oklahoma
45. New Mexico
46. Idaho
47. West Virginia
48. Mississippi
49. Alabama
50. South Carolina
51. Louisiana
To determine its rankings, WalletHub looks at three main factors that greatly impact the quality of life (and work) for working moms: child care, professional opportunities, and work-life balance. Each state is given scores based on things like the cost of daycare, how many pediatricians it has per capita, its gender pay gap, ratio of female-to-male executives, parental leave policies, and more.
“Working parents (not just mothers) need to be not only welcomed into, but really driving the conversations about how to rethink workplace culture, workforce expectations, and work-life negotiation,” said Jennifer L. Borda, a professor of communication at the University of New Hampshire and one of the experts consulted on the study. “There is a diverse population caring for children now, so being attuned to how different workers have different needs and how those needs may shift and evolve over time. For example, LGBTQ+ workers may have different needs than cisgender/heterosexual couples… Work should not be, can no longer be, one size fits all.”
With rising food prices, there’s no doubt you’ve been trying to think of ways to shop smart when you head to the grocery store. If you’re determined to lower your bottom line, you’ll be glad to know there are plenty of ways to keep your wallet just as full as your cart—from using coupons to downloading grocery savings apps and more. Keep scrolling to find our savvy list of hacks on how to shop smart the next time you’re cruising the aisles.
iStock
Shop online and do drive-thru pick-up. You might balk at the fee some grocery stores charge to bring the groceries to your car but consider the money you'll save by not wandering the aisles with kids who'll no doubt beg for every snack in sight?
Plan your meals. To avoid over-buying on your next grocery run, plan your meals. Write out the days of the week and under each heading, choose what you’ll be eating and what ingredients you need so you can streamline (and save on!) your trip. Recovering Spender author and financial life coach Lauren Greutman puts things into perspective. "If we spend $25 on pizza every week, we're forking out an extra $1300 a year on takeout!"
Shop in stores where you know the layout. Quick trips to the grocery store can turn into a free-for-all if you don't know where everything is, especially when you are tired or in a hurry.
Stay away from pre-chopped veggies. You may be tempted to reach for those containers of ready-chopped onions, celery, and carrots, but they also come with a higher price tag. According to consumerreports.org, you'll be paying almost double for that pre-prepped status. Instead, shop smart and opt for buying the entire vegetable and set aside time for chopping.
Start using the Flashfood App. This app has partnered with grocery stores all over the country in hopes of eliminating food waste, plus, users can save up to $108 a month. How does it work? Download the app, and then search for a grocery location near you. Then you can choose and purchase discounted food items—you know, the items that have "just" reached their best buy date, and pick them up at designated Flashfood Zones in the store.
Shop during the quiet hours. When the store is crowded with busy, tired folks and crying babies, all you want to do is get your shopping done. There's little chance of you taking the time to price compare or search for bargains. Instead, hit the aisles when fewer customers are around, and you'll feel less stressed to get a move on. Want to know what hours to avoid? The Time Use Institute states that the busiest hours of the day are 4 p.m.-5 p.m. on weekdays, and from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m or so on the weekends.
Go meatless. If you’re shopping on a budget, consider adding Meatless Monday (or Tuesday or Wednesday) to your weekly meal rotation. You’ll save on one of the most expensive staples on your grocery list and you’re guaranteed to get in all of your greens! A study published in the Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition found that vegetarians save up to $750 a year by going meatless.
Become a coupon clipper. We’re not saying you need to audition for the next season of Extreme Couponing, but before you head to the store, do a quick online search for any coupons that will apply to the items on your grocery list. You’ll also want to check if your grocery store has its app. Many stores like Target and Kroger have their app with additional digital coupons you can use.
Download cashback apps. As you’re looking for coupons on the items on your grocery list, take a few minutes to download cashback apps like Ibotta and Checkout 51. These apps allow you to earn a percentage or dollar amount back on certain items after you upload a photo of your receipt. And while they may be small amounts at first (25 cents back on any item, for instance), they add up quickly!
iStock
Buy generic. You probably have a few brands that you’ve used for years, but when it comes to everyday items like salt or flour, you can make your wallet a little happier by buying generic.
Look up or down. Did you know that supermarkets often stock the priciest items at eye level? When you’re looking to shop smart and find the best deals, remind yourself to look on those top and bottom shelves.
Buy in bulk. If cheese is on your list, spring for a block. Grated cheddar is almost always more expensive. And, when a family staple, like chicken noodle soup, goes on sale 10 for $10, go ahead and load up! If you don't have room in the pantry, ask a store associate if you can still get the discounted price.
Don’t shop while hungry. Heading to the store on an empty stomach? Do your budget a favor and eat first. Grocery shopping while hungry can lead you to buy much more than you need and make impulse purchases. Like Paco Underhill, author of Why We Buy: The Science of Shopping says, "more than 60% of what we buy wasn’t on our list."
Send the most economic partner to the store. If one partner is more likely to use coupons, look for bargains or attempt to spend the absolute minimum amount possible, consider having that partner tackle the big shopping trips (quick weeknight trips don't count—those are anyone's game!).
Buy frozen vegetables and fruit. Depending on what’s in season, you can save a few bucks by buying your vegetables in the freezer section. Certain grocery stores like Trader Joe’s often have frozen veggies and fruit for under $2 so you can stock up!
Find bargains online. In the days of Amazon Fresh and other online retailers, you can easily find food at bargain prices—you just have to know where to look. consumereports.org suggests buying the following non-perishable items online to save your hard-earned dollars: snack bars, coffee, baby food, pasta and more.
After a long and anxious wait, COVID-19 vaccines are now available for kids age 5 to 11. Getting young kids vaccinated is critical for protecting our communities, since this is a large age group, and taking this step will give millions of parents peace of mind.
Paul Lewis, MD, a Kaiser Permanente pediatrician in Portland, Oregon, who specializes in infections in kids, says that as winter and the holidays approach, this is a good time to get kids vaccinated. He suggests using the COVID-19 vaccine authorization as an opportunity to get kids caught up on other vaccinations as well, since many people have fallen behind on regular appointments during the last 18 months. He also suggests that all children over 6 months old get their flu shot this year. Fortunately, he says, it’s no problem to get both shots at the same time.
We know parents, caregivers, and others may have questions about the safety of the pediatric COVID-19 vaccine. In this Q&A, Dr. Lewis answers common questions about it.
How well does the COVID-19 vaccine work for kids?
For kids under 12, the COVID-19 vaccine is incredibly effective. A recent study, affirmed by the Food and Drug Administration, that included more than 3,000 kids who got the pediatric dose of the vaccine found that it was more than 90% effective at preventing infection with symptoms.
How does the vaccine for children 5 to 11 differ from the vaccine for people 12 and older?
The pediatric vaccine is identical to the vaccine that’s used for older teenagers and adults, but the dose is one-third of the adult dose. That dosage was chosen because it was just as effective at providing protective antibodies but had a much lower rate of side effects.
What are the most common side effects?
Of the thousands of kids who were part of that recent study, zero had serious adverse events. Some kids get sore arms, redness or swelling, and a smaller percentage might get fatigue, muscle aches or fever. But they’re getting side effects at lower rates than teenagers and adults.
What is the risk of myocarditis?
Myocarditis, or inflammation of the heart, has occurred in young men who’ve been vaccinated but is pretty rare, with a handful of cases per million vaccination doses. Many cardiologists think that, since this is generally more common in teenagers than school-age kids, it’ll be less common after vaccination as well.
If my child has underlying health conditions, should I go ahead with vaccination?
Studies on this are ongoing. We know that older adolescents and adults with immunocompromised conditions or on immunosuppressive medications respond less well to vaccination, but they do respond. We also know that if they get COVID-19, they’re more likely to have worse outcomes, including needing hospitalization and intensive care. If someone has an underlying condition, such as an immunosuppressive condition, diabetes, heart disease or lung disease, we recommend getting an age-appropriate vaccine.
If my child is used to wearing a mask, can’t I just rely on that for prevention?
Social distancing and wearing masks are important layers of protection, but they are hard to continue day after day, especially for kids at recess or at lunch. So the vaccine is a big, thick layer of protection to help with all those other measures, and people should use them together.
How should I prepare my child for a vaccination appointment?
I’ve never met a kid who wanted to get a shot, but kids are resilient. You can help by explaining that you’ve been vaccinated and, while it does hurt, the pain goes away quickly and you’re there for them. At Kaiser Permanente vaccination sites, there will be people who are used to dealing with children and who know that there is a lot of emotion and fear. Kaiser Permanente staff and parents can work together to make it a minor experience for kids.
Is there anything you can do to help reduce the pain that happens in the arm after getting the vaccine? Does heat or cold compresses work better?
I don’t know of any magic or comparison between heat and cold. My advice to parents would be to avoid focusing on it; it is not much different than any other injection- actually smaller in volume. Use acetaminophen or ibuprofen if you normally would for the degree of pain.
My son keeps taking his mask off during recess at school, is he safe since he’s outside?
Different states and different school districts have varying policies on using masks outside. In general, the risk of getting COVID outside is MUCH less than in any indoor setting. Please try to follow the school’s rules—they are doing there best in a difficult situation and parents can help by being supportive
I know the CDC says it’s safe to get both the flu vaccine at the same time as the covid vaccine, but as a pediatrician would you recommend waiting a week or two in between those vaccines?
Simultaneous vaccines are recommended because it is hard for individuals and families to make multiple appointments or to fit multiple visits into their schedules. I got mine together last week!
Are there any over the counter medications that my child should or should not take right after getting the vaccine?
CDC recommends not taking OTCs unless you need them for symptom management.
I have a 17 year old son with a heart murmur and a left ventricular bundle branch block, is he at a higher risk for Myocarditis with the vaccine?
Hard question, but I would check with his cardiologist who knows his case the best.
I have a child with a compromised immune system; with the new variant heading to the US, should I consider homeschooling during the winter months?
We will know much more about the new variant by January. It is not yet widespread enough in the US to worry and when school starts again after New Years we should know more about the risk to vaccinated and unvaccinated kids.
Do you have an estimated timeline of when kids under 5 will be approved for the vaccine?
Hard to make a guarantee but hopefully by spring of 2022.
If you’ve ever visited a store with your little ones in tow, it quickly becomes clear that they think money grows on trees. Or rather, it flows from that magical drive-thru cash dispenser at the bank. It can be a tricky subject to tackle with kids, but those trips to the toy aisle become a bit more meaningful when you try a hands-on approach to teaching finances—even at a young age. From starting a DIY business to chore charts, here are a few ways to master the money game with your kids.
Start teaching your child positive saving habits today with anOnPoint Savers Account from OnPoint Community Credit Union. When you open an account and deposit a minimum of $25, OnPoint will deposit an additional $55!*
1. Play cashier. Use “money” to play cashier with your kids at home. Play money you’ve bought or created works well for this activity! Next, set prices for items around the house—food, clothing, you name it—and allow them to pay with the pretend money, showing them how much they need and how much change they should receive after paying. Pretend transactions at home will help build the foundation for spending money in the real world.
2. Set an achievable goal. First, choose an item with your kids that they’d like to purchase with their own money—something they could reasonably achieve within one to three months. Then, remind them to save up every time they receive money via allowance or gifts. Once your little ones have saved enough money toward their goal, take them to the store to make the purchase with their savings, or possibly continue saving and setting a new bigger goal.
3. Explain how banking works and open a savings account.Your kids may think the bank, credit union or ATM is a place you visit when you need more money or that your debit card just has money. Take them with you to your local branch, and explain that it is a place that keeps your money safe after you’ve earned it, not somewhere that gives it away. Depending on how old they are, this could be as simple as teaching them about money in and money out, or as complicated as explaining compound interest, and the basics of income and budgeting.
4. Grow savings. Show them how to keep track of the money they save by writing deposits and withdrawals in a register or at the top of a piece of paper. Then explain how they can earn more money from their savings by keeping their money in their account. For example, in addition to receiving $55 when opening an OnPoint Savers Account, the account balance will earn 5.00% APY up to $500—a higher interest rate than a traditional savings account! Along with the OnPoint Savers Account, the credit union also provides tips and tools to help savers of all ages learn positive money habits.
5. Help them start a shop. What better way to teach your kids about money than by running their own “business?” Work with your child to determine what they’ll create, where they’ll sell, what their costs will be and how much they’ll charge. Selling homemade dog biscuits near a local dog park or having a DIY plant business is an excellent opportunity for kids to have fun and learn the value of money!
—Kaitlyn Kirby
*OnPoint Savers Account rate of 5.00% APY is accurate as of December 1, 2020 and subject to change. Stated APY is for balances up to $500; balances of $500.01 and higher earn posted Regular Savings Account rate. Account must be established for members age 17 or younger by parent or guardian with a minimum $25 deposit. Parent or legal guardian must be on the membership and present to open the OnPoint Savers Account. When primary member attains the age of 18, accounts will be converted to Regular Savings Account, earning that account’s published rate at that time. Fiduciary memberships, including UTTMA and Minor Settlement Accounts are not eligible for OnPoint Savers. One OnPoint Savers Account per member/TIN. One $55 bonus per tax ID for new members only. Bonus will be included on a 1099-INT for tax purposes. Cannot be combined with other offers for opening a new membership, such as new branch promotions or Refer a Friend.
The full account balance APY is calculated by combining the 5.00% APY earnings on the first $500 with the standard APY on the remaining balance above $500.
Your candy bar might look a little different over the next two months and you might want to stock up! CRUNCH, Butterfinger and Baby Ruth have released limited-edition bars with art supporting the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and a percentage of proceeds will go straight to CMN Hospitals.
The colorful artwork is designed by CMNH child ambassadors and there’s a different design for each brand. Ciarlo has Spina Bfida and designed the T-rex on crutches for CRUNCH. Audrey had surgery to correct scoliosis and created the serene scene for Butterfinger. Logan has muscular dystrophy and his art features an astronaut in space. All children were treated at CMN Hospitals and their art is inspired by memorable or imaginative moments in their lives.
“We’re very excited to partner with this great non-profit organization and invite our customers to join us in our journey to support all the futures made possible by Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals,” said Mark Wakefield, Senior Vice President Marketing, Ferrero Mainstream Chocolate & Nutella. “Just like Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, CRUNCH, Butterfinger and Baby Ruth aim to create moments that bring people together every day.”
To learn more about the campaign, you can visit a new online site with more info on the kids, their stories and their artwork. Butterfinger is also collaborating with Extra Life, a program affiliated with CMNH that is tied to the gaming community. On June 3, the two companies will host a fundraising stream for gamers to play Final Fantasy XIV.
If you’re in major family planning mode, it might also be a good time for a career change. Career Expert site Zippia recently studied the best and worst jobs for expecting moms who are looking for paid maternity leave (because who isn’t?) and the results are pretty interesting.
Zippia scraped over one million job listings to determine which companies were likely to offer paid maternity leave by searching for specific keywords. Those jobs with the highest percentage of keywords offered the most maternity leave benefits. Here’s what they discovered.
The following job titles had over 10 percent of listings that mentioned maternity leave:
1. Senior Reliability Engineer
2. Lead Engineer
3. Electronics Tehnician
4. Senior Recruiter
5. Technical Support Engineer
6. Technical Recruiter
7. Compliance Analyst
8. Sales Manager
9. Software Test Engineer
10. Enterprise Account Executive.
Notably, all of these job titles require tons of experience and don’t apply to the majority of job seekers who likely work in entry or mid-level careers.
Zippia also noted the worst job options when it comes to getting paid maternity leave, with less that 1 percent offering the benefit:
1. Cook
2. Server
3. Sales Engineer
4. Case Manager
5. Architect
6. Sales Specialist
7. Machine Operator
8. Systems Administrator
9. Administrative Assistant
10. Material Handler
Many of the worst job options for paid maternity leave pay less than $30,000 annually, adding to the already difficult challenges of how moms can afford to take time off for baby. Obviously not everyone can afford to make a huge career change, but knowing which jobs offer a paid leave definitely helps when it comes to planning––and waiting for the U.S. to finally get its act together on offering a national paid maternity leave program.
Money is part of everyone’s life. You need money to purchase necessary items like groceries and clothing, and you need it to pay bills to survive. Some people are great at finances—others, not so much. That’s why you must teach your kids valuable lessons about money from a young age so they can adequately manage their finances well into adulthood.
You don’t want to risk allowing your child to learn inadequate money management from someone else, so that’s why you need to teach your kids about money. Financial skills are essential to navigate life, so here are some realistic ways to teach your kids about money so they’re set for the future.
Teach Them the Value of Money
First of all, you should teach your kids about the value of money. If you hand a young child a penny, nickel and dime, they’ll likely choose the larger coin, which is the nickel. However, the nickel is not the most valuable.
You can teach your children the names of coins and how much they’re worth. They’ll be able to recognize coins after repetition of showing and teaching them their values.
Talk Openly about Family Monetary Decisions
You shouldn’t have to hide monetary decisions from your children. If you’re paying bills or have a significant expense coming up, explain to your children that you have to save money for it and might have to budget, which means no more unnecessary items for a short amount of time.
Let them understand that things cost money and that their food, clothes, and toys don’t magically show up at your house. Ever since they were born, you’ve had to carefully save money to support them. Explain how you pay for things so they know how much everything costs.
Use a Clear Jar for Their Savings
Piggy banks are great ways for children to save money they get for birthdays, holidays, or if they find a coin on the sidewalk. They love putting their earnings into a piggy bank, but unless you dump all of the money out, they can’t visually see how much they have saved.
When kids can visually see their monetary growth, they’ll learn and grasp the concept of money even better. Each time they add to the jar, they can see the growth and be excited that they’re saving money!
Play Board Games That Involve Money
What’s more fun than a family game night? Games like Monopoly and The Game of Life teach valuable money skills. Although the money is fake, your children can learn what it’s like to spend money, be in debt, and invest their money.
Your kids can get a sense of how the world of money works. They can decide what they really need in life, which leads to better spending habits in the future.
Talk about Spending, Saving and Giving
When your child earns money, create three different envelopes for them—one for spending, saving, and giving. Part of teaching them about money is teaching them how to organize their money.
Each time they receive money, have them split it into either equal parts or an agreed percentage for each category. Then, they can choose what to do with the funds in each category. For example, if they have a friend in need, they can use the “giving” money for their friend.
Let Them Pay for Something They Want
Kids always want things, whether it be a new video game or a dollhouse. These items aren’t something they need, so if they want it, allow them to save up and pay for it themselves. They’ll soon realize that it takes a lot of saving to pay for an item.
If they want the item badly enough, they will take the time to save their money, especially if you refuse to give in and purchase it for them.
Encourage Teens to Get a Job
There are plenty of opportunities for teenagers to get a job. As your children get to that age, they can begin doing more work. They will further understand that it takes hard work to earn a small amount of money and appreciate how much you work to make money for everyday expenses.
Start with a small job, like babysitting or mowing lawns. Ask around the neighborhood what kinds of work people have that they can regularly pay your teen money to do. If you have older teenagers, help them search for a part-time job.
Use Everyday Context to Teach
Money is involved in everyday life. You likely spend money every day, whether it’s for groceries, spending at a restaurant, paying bills, and even for taxes. Each time you pull out cash or your credit or debit card, it’s a prime opportunity to teach your kids about money.
Let them help you count out money for a purchase, or have them help you fill out a form online when you make an online purchase. Additionally, teach them about checks and how to write them. The more often they can participate in spending, the more skills you’ll instill into them.
It’s Never Too Early to Teach Kids about Money
You’re better off being realistic about money with your children from a young age than have them grow up and be misinformed about the world of money. Help them make wise financial decisions so you can be confident in their future money habits.
Kara Reynolds is the Editor-in-Chief and founder of Momish Magazine. A mom of four and matriarch to her big blended family, Kara wants nothing more than to normalize differences in family structures. She enjoys peeing alone, pancakes, and pinot noir - but not at the same time.
Travel in 2020 looks different than in years past. There is a greater need for disinfection and cleanliness. Airbnb just announced that 1.2 million listings globally have been granted the Enhanced Cleaning Protocol (ECP) highlight since it launched in June.
Hosts on Airbnb continue to prioritize health and safety as guests look for healthy and responsible getaways. Listings receive The Enhanced Clean highlight after hosts attest to following sanitization guidelines to support safer travel. The program, which is available to hosts in 220+ countries and regions, is informed by guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States and Europe and advice from former Surgeon General of the United States, Vivek Murthy.
Airbnb offers unique homes with more space for their money and more control over their environment, such as entire-home listings with private amenities like kitchens and swimming pools. Bookings for listings opted into the Enhanced Cleaning Protocol are more likely to be for family stays.
Airbnb’s Enhanced Cleaning Initiative continues to evolve and expand as our community adapts to a new world of travel and health precautions. As of this month, hosts in more than 220 countries and regions have access to Airbnb’s expert-backed Enhanced Cleaning Protocol in 61 languages, including a detailed handbook and other resources. Additionally, Airbnb has issued Health and Safety Guidelines for its entire community.
The top ten countries with the highest number of Enhanced Clean listings on Airbnb are:
United States
France
United Kingdom
Spain
Italy
Mexico
Brazil
Australia
Canada
Greece
Airbnb hosts in other places have also started following the new cleaning standards. Barbados, Korea, Japan and Portugal are also top ranking locations for Enhanced Clean listings, compared to total listings available.
“Cleanliness and safety are top of mind for our hosts and guests. In the last weeks, hosts have embraced and adopted our new rigorous guidelines, with thousands more attesting to the Enhanced Cleaning protocol everyday. This effort shows how our hosts are dedicated to the highest standards and committed to keeping their guests and communities safe,” said Catherine Powell, Head of Hosting at Airbnb.
According to internal Airbnb guest review data, 95 percent of all Airbnb reviews show that guests are satisfied with cleaning, scoring it at 4 or 5 stars (out of five stars) after their stays. Since the program launched, Enhanced Clean listings have had an average cleanliness rating of 4.8 stars, according to guest reviews.
In addition, as more guests opt to travel by car instead of plane, the percentage of bookings made on Airbnb within 200 miles has grown in the last months. Below are the top ten destinations with the highest concentration of Airbnb Enhanced Clean listings:
Telluride, Colorado, US
Destin, Florida, US
Walla Walla, Washington, US
Panama City Beach, Florida, US
Oregon Coast, US
Peak District, Hope Valley, UK
Grant County, Washington, US
Big Sky, Montana, US
Mammoth Lakes, California, US
Winter Park, Colorado, US
Airbnb hosts need to comply with guidance from governments or health authorities in their local jurisdictions. They remain committed to working with local governments, medical experts and other authorities to help ensure appropriate precautions are taken and inform the reopening of communities and their tourism economies.
Even though the beginning of this school year looks different than years past, kids are still looking forward to meeting new teachers and classmates. Even if this year consists of remote or hybrid learning there is the excitement that comes with buying new clothes, shoes and supplies. Nordstrom is proud to continue its partnership with customers and the nonprofit Shoes That Fit for the tenth year in a row to provide brand-new and well-fitting sneakers to kids in need in local communities.
Starting today and through Oct. 4, customers can purchase $10 giving cards in all Nordstrom stores or donate online. One hundred percent of proceeds from every giving card purchased goes toward the gift of one pair of new sneakers for a child in need. Individuals can also make an online, tax-deductible donation at www.shoesthatfit.org/Nordstrom.
“At Nordstrom, we are committed to making a difference in our communities,” said Scott Meden, chief marketing officer at Nordstrom. “Each pair of shoes donated represents a child with more confidence, hope, self-esteem and joy. We are thankful to our customers and employees who have helped us give more than 200,000 pairs of shoes to kids in need over the last 10 years.”
Since 2010, together with its customers, Nordstrom has raised nearly $4 million to give 200,000 kids in need a brand-new pair of shoes. These shoes have been delivered at schools across the United States, all of which have a high percentage of students on free or reduced lunch programs. When children receive their new shoes through the Shoes That Fit program, schools shared that 40% of those students increased attendance and 87% reported increased self-esteem.
“For children to reach their full potential, they need to feel good about themselves. Creating this confidence in children at a young age is empowering and critical to their future success,” said Amy Fass, CEO of Shoes That Fit. “We are proud to partner with Nordstrom to give back to these children and invest in their future.”
This year, Nordstrom has also enlisted the help of Olympic gold-medalist Gabby Douglas to encourage people to help the retailer donate over 35,000 shoes to kids in need.
Beyond the partnership with Shoes That Fit, Nordstrom supports the local communities where it does business. In 2019, the company donated nearly $11 million to 392 organizations in every community where Nordstrom does business. Many of these organizations provide basic necessities to kids and families so they can thrive and reach their full potential.
With COVID-19 being part of our daily lives let’s try and understand why wearing a protective face mask can help us prevent getting the virus from others and protect the community at large. Also what type of mask is suitable for adults to wear and do children also need to wear one?
Why are people wearing masks right now? The purpose of people wearing masks in public right now is to protect the community. Since so many people who have COVID-19 don’t have symptoms, wearing masks can help reduce the possibility that someone with no symptoms could transmit the disease to others.
Why does wearing a mask help? Face masks reduce the spray of that person’s infectious respiratory droplets so masks can help reduce this kind of spread of the virus. Masks also can protect you from others who may have coronavirus but have no symptoms showing and who could come within 6 feet of you which is the range of transmitting infection through acts like sneezing or coughing.
Is there a right way to wear and use a mask? For a mask to be safest and most protective for children and adults they should securely cover the nose and mouth area. Masks should not be worn when eating and should not be touched when on. Hand washing should take place before and after you remove a mask. Also masks should be washed after each wearing. Remove the mask from behind without touching the front of the mask.
Should children wear masks? It is not recommended for children under age 2 to wear a mask. Some opinions hold that children under age 6 for various reasons should not wear a mask. Also if children can be kept at least 6 feet away from others and not be in contact with surfaces that could harbor the virus then they do not need a mask for the protection of themselves or others. Additionally, a child should not wear a mask if it causes touching their face more frequently hence increasing the child to an increased risk of getting exposed to the virus.
So what kind of mask is best to wear? There are 3 types of protective face masks available in the market at present:
3-ply mask: This is a mask made of 3 layers with the innermost layer used for absorbing moisture, the middle layer is a filter and the outermost layer repels water. You should always wear the 3-ply mask with the pleated side facing out. The pleated material allows you to expand the mask so that it covers the area from the nose to the chin. The better-manufactured ones have a pliable nose piece for proper fit across nose & cheekbones. The 3-ply mask is the most popular and least expensive protective face mask for mass-market use.
KN95 mask: This mask model is similar to the well-known N95 mask. With such similar-sounding names, it can be confusing to understand the difference between N95 and KN95 masks. What are KN95 masks, and are they the same as N95 masks? In short, they are both multi-layered protective masks (usually 4-layers) and N95 masks are the US standards for respirator masks and the KN95 masks are the Chinese standards for masks. In reality, the two masks are equivalent or nearly equivalent on the features that most people care about. Even according to mask manufacturer 3M, “it is reasonable to consider” China’s KN95s “equivalent” to US N95s. Mask standards for Europe (FFP2), Australia (P2), Korea (KMOEL), and Japan (DS) are also highly similar. A good comparison is in what percentage of particles the masks capture. On this parameter, N95 and KN95 respirator masks are the same. Both masks are rated to capture 95% of tiny particles (0.3 micron particles, to be exact). If you want a sturdier mask at a reasonable cost the KN95 is a good option.
N95 mask.This is the “professional” mask and the most expensive. The N95 mask reduces exposure to airborne elements, has a higher filtering efficiency and is made to have a better fit than conventional face masks. The N95 typically come in a contour cup design, has an adjustable nose piece and has at least two elastic straps that go around the head, one above the ears and one below. Due to very limited supply now in the market professional grade masks like N95 masks should be reserved for medical professionals on the front lines who have increased risk of exposure to coronavirus in close proximity.
Alternatively you can order one of these clever face masks or make your own protective mask using cotton fabric and elastic bands ensuring that the fabric is securely covering the nose and mouth area.
Whatever mask you decide to buy and wear just keep safe and healthy out there.
Sources: the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC])
Michael Braunold is CEO of Elepho, Inc, the company that created eClip. eClip is a device that attaches easily inside the car and connects to a cell phone via Bluetooth. It alerts parents if they walk more than 25 feet from their car without removing their child along with monitoring the temperature within the car. Elepho has also developed a device called eFloat to constantly monitor water temperature in a baby bath as well as eTherm to check baby temperatures.
